Field reports: Volunteers collect 8,300 pounds of trash
OUTSTANDING – Despite the rainy weather on Sept. 28, the 11th annual Spokane River Clean-up attracted 500 volunteers who collected 8,300 pounds of trash in the High Bridge Park and University District areas.
Friends of the Falls, which organizes the event, was able to recycle 810 pounds of the junk.
Lewis and Clark High School defended its title as the top trash-collecting teens from District 81 schools. West Valley City School topped other schools.
Doing their own thing, Northwest Whitewater rafters floated the upper river to collect another ton of debris.
On Friday and Saturday, the Spokane River Forum needs help to restore shoreline and improve a state line river access.
Info: spokaneriver.net.
Roadkill on menu in Montana
CRITTERS – Salvaging roadkill for the dinner table is not only legal starting this month in Montana, but state officials plan to let drivers who accidentally kill big game to simply print out permits at home that allow them to harvest the meat.
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved regulations Thursday that allow people to go online for permits to salvage for food the animals they hit and kill within 24 hours of the fender-bender.
No need to present the carcass to a law-enforcement official in person within a day of a crash, as was originally planned.
Montana lawmakers earlier this year passed the bill allowing motorists to salvage deer, elk, moose and antelope struck by vehicles. Supporters who didn’t want to see the meat go to waste won out over skeptics who wondered whether the meat would be safe for human consumption.
Other doubters stewed over whether drivers would intentionally gun their engines whenever they spotted an animal in the road.
Hound helps cite elk killing suspect
BIG GAME – Officers from three enforcement agencies, including a U.S. Border Patrol tracking dog, worked together to make a case and a suspect has been charged for illegally killing a trophy bull elk in Pend Oreille County.
Charles I. Fraley, 27, of Ione pleaded not guilty in the county District Court on Friday to charges that he shot the six-point bull with a rifle during archery season. A trial is set for November.
A sheriff’s deputy responded to a tip, apparently from archery hunters in the area and located Fraley. A Washington Fish and Wildlife police came in and handled the investigation.
Border Patrol agents also responded and used a tracking dog to backtrack the suspect’s activities from his vehicle.
FISHING – Idaho Fish and Game officials plan to stock 500 rainbow trout into Moscow’s Hordemann Pond this week to give youngsters an autumn treat.
Steelhead areas opening
FISHING – Fishing will open Wednesday for hatchery steelhead on the upper Columbia, Wenatchee, Icicle, Methow and Okanogan rivers, Washington fisheries managers announced Friday.